Chapter One: And So It Begins
"Mother I'm fine," I say as I pull my red converse.
"But what if your legs suddenly give out? It is too much of a risk," my mother fretted over me.
"If I only have a short while to live then I really want to live. The neighborhood knows about how fragile I am. If something happens then you'll find out as soon as it does," I said.
"Well alright but only for you," my mom said, "May God protect you in your journey."
After receiving my mother's blessing I walk out the door letting the summer rays warm up my skin. You may think you have over-protective parents but I assure you they can't hold a dime to mine. Maybe it's not that they are over-protective by choice but rather by circumstance. At age nine I was diagnosed with Alexander disease. Unfortunately the disease is fatal but in my opinion I got pretty lucky. The disease usually involves a difficulty in talking and swallowing as well as the loss of intelligence but for me I have no such symptoms. At least this way I appear to be normal.
"Hello Delena. Are you feeling well today?" said our neighbor Vera.
"I'm fine Miss Jinks. Thank you for asking," I said. She gives a nod and returns to her yard work, humming a nice slow tune under her breath.
Neighbors always ask me how I am doing. At first I would get annoyed but now I am so used to it that it is a routine I always go through, well at least during the holidays. See besides having an incurable illness I also happen to be a witch.
It came to my family as a really big shocker. At first I was not going to go, my mother was against it, but after Professor Dumbledore planned my stay at Hogwarts I was finally permitted to go. The staff had to be trained to handle me in case of a seizure and they had to be explained the meaning of my disease but it was worth it. Well at least to me anyways.
There are times when you walk and you can be staring right at the road but still manage to knock into a person. Well it didn't happen to me but it did happen to a boy who was walking in front of me. Only instead of a person it was a lamp post.
I rushed over to the boy as he yelled out in a mixture of shock and pain. His eyes watering he shook his head as he backed away from the lamp post. I reached over and put my hand over his shoulder and tried to pull him out of the street.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
The boy just continued whimpering in pain so he must have not heard me until he finally stopped jumping around and looked up. We both must have had shocked looks in our faces because I couldn't believe who was in front of me.
"Rohese? What are you doing here?"
"Pettigrew…are you from my Herbology class?"
"Yes. You still have not answered my question," said Peter Pettigrew.
"I live around here. What about you? I'm sure I would have known if you were living here," I said.
"I'm supposed to meet James, Sirius, and Remus over at a muggle shop. You don't happen to know where a sweet shop is, do you?"
"A bit hard to get lost in Edentown. It's not like this is Carlisle Central," I teased.
'Well I have never been here. Sirius reckons this place has the best crepes in all of Greater Britain, though," said Pettigrew.
"Mr. Black would have it right if he is talking about N. Routledge & Sons Bakers and Confectioners. But that is in Carlisle, I doubt you can find it if you got lost here," I said."What if that is not even the shop? All Sirius said was it had the best bakery in the county of Cumbria," said Pettigrew defensively.
"When would he ever come here?" I asked in surprise.
"He is staying in Lancaster for the summer and he happened to come about the shop. He mentioned Carlisle but I can't remember exactly what part of it. I just happened to land about here," said Pettigrew.
Now I may not know Peter Pettigrew that well except for the occasional classes we have but I am starting to feel sorry for him. The bakery was not that far from where I was planning to go so I guess I could take him to the Central.
"Well Peter Pettigrew I am over to the Central myself so if you want me to tag along," I suggested when his face lit up.
"We could go together! I don't mind and it would be fun," he said.
I smiled at his enthusiasm as I followed him to the cabbie station. Luckily the next ride to the Central was soon so we didn't have to wait a long time. We were inside the bus chatting idling, just trying to pass time and truth be told it was actually fun. I've heard rumors of the Gryffindor boys but Peter Pettigrew is never mentioned, at least not in a romantic sense. Spending time with him I can't see why, he is funny and not as dumb as girls in my dorm mar him out to be. Then again some Ravenclaws can be narrow-minded.
"So what are you going to Carlisle for?" said Peter.
"My grandmother is there and we are planning to go out later this afternoon. I was going to Lanes shopping centre for a bit," I said happily.
"Stop 53," the bus driver called out.
"This is our stop," I informed Peter as I made my way towards the aisle.
"I don't see the shop," said a confused Peter.
"We still have a bit of a walk. Transportation here is different from the Knight Bus," I explained.
The walk was not terribly long but my legs were starting to feel weak. I kept praying that I would not collapse and thankfully I made it to the shop.
"Here it is," I announced proudly, "N. Routledge & Sons Bakers and Confectioners, the best baked goods in all of Britain."
"I'll believe after I try the pastries," joked Peter as he walked inside.
"Denela! How are you?" the shop owner called from the register.
"I'm fine Mr. Krumps, thank you for asking," I said.
"A regular?" Peter said with a raised eye brow.
"Don't judge," I sniffled as I turn my head to the side, "Hey? Are those your friends over there?"
I jerked my head towards a circular table near the corner of the shop. Three teenage boys were sitting together talking about stuff and laughing at unknown jokes.
"Yes, it's them. Thank you for showing me around," Peter said giving me a final wave before he turned to make his way towards his friends.
"A new friend?" asked Mr. Krumps.
"We are from the same school," I explain, "We happened to cross paths as I was on my way over. He was lost and I offered to show him the way."
"You really are a sweet child," Mr. Krumps said fondly, "Here have a pastry puff. It will help you keep your energy."
"Is it really that obvious?" I said.
"That you are about to fall over from exhaustion? No, but I know you very well. Eat, eat! I'll call a cab to come pick you up."
I shook my head as I said, "No, I'm fine, really. My grandmother is not far away and it would just be a waste of money."
"Well at least let me call your grandmother. She can come pick you up while you eat the puffs with a glass of milk. I won't let you leave with an empty stomach."
"You spoil me," I sigh as I take the pastries.
"No it would just be bad for business if someone left hungry," he teased as he made his way to the back phone.
I settled my food at a table near the door taking a small sip from my glass of milk as I watch the cars go by. Sometimes it feels like life is like the passing cars. Some pass by fast and others are slower. Some are old and some are very shiny and brand new. Then there are the cars that are like me. The ones that seem fine but then the brakes won't work when you need them to stop. Or at least something similar like that.
Not that I am pessimistic or anything. Truth be told I gladly await my death because then I can be an angel. It sounds a little silly but when I was a young girl someone told me a story about an angel and ever since then I knew dying would not be so bad. I accept my death even if my mother tries to se desperately to cling onto to life.
The jingles of the door catch my attention and I see my grandmother at the door.
"And then she ran out! Honestly, I can never understand females," said Sirius.
"Hey you guys!" I called over as I pulled open a chair.
"Peter!"
"What took you so long?" demanded Sirius.
"I got a little lost," I admitted as I lowered my eyes in embarrassment.
"I told you Sirius," said Remus, "You need to learn how to give better directions."
"How did you finally find your way?" asked James.
"I met someone from school on my way over. In Edentown, I think," I said.
"Really? Who?" asked Sirius in interest.
"Delena Rohese. She's a Ravenclaw in our year," I explain as I tore off a piece of pastry.
"Delena Rohese?"
"She's in my Herbology class," I elaborate.
"I think I know who you are talking about," Remus says slowly, "I've seen her in the Hospital Wing a few times."
"She's the girl from the Hospital Wing?" said a surprised James as both Remus and I nod in confirmation.
"She is at that table," I said pointing my head towards the door.
"She looks different," commented Sirius.
"She's not in the hospital gowns. And you've only seen her a few time, makes it hard to tell," I said.
We turned our head back to the door when we heard it open and saw an elderly woman walk in. She was about the same height as Delena but that was as far as their similarities went. I thought she was just a strange old woman so I surprised me when Delena stood up to greet the woman.
"Wonder who that is," said James.
"Her grandmother," said Remus.
"How did you work that one out?" I demanded.
"A bit obvious, if you know what I mean. An old woman walks in and gets hugged by a teenager? How thick would you have to be?" said Sirius.
I watched from the corner of my eyes as Delena left the table, following her grandmother outside, wondering if I would get to see her again. Remus smiled at me as he caught me looking outside.
"Don't worry. I'm sure we can go to Edentown later in the summer," he promised.
"I hope so," I whisper. After all I just made a new friend.
"Honestly Nana it's no big deal," I said.
"No big deal? Lena, those herbs are more than just weeds," said my outraged grandmother.
"They were city folk, what did you expect?" I said.
"No appreciation," my grandmother continued to mutter as we made our way through the outdoor market.
The outdoor market is really something I look forward to in the muggle world. All the different goods and produced found here are something akin to the magic of Hogwarts.
"Now Lena no stalling. I know you love to spend time at the stalls but we really do need to go back home quickly. Your mother will want to pick you up early," said my grandmother.
"Yes Nana," I replied dutifully. Honestly! You feel a little faint and suddenly you are deemed too delicate for yard work. But it is summer and I spend most of my year at Hogwarts, I should indulge my mother for at least a bit.
We were here to pick up some Milfoil for our neighbor. Apparently talking about your digestive problems seems to be a common occurrence in my grandmother's neighborhood. Not that I don't mind since that means I come to the market at a regular basis.
"Good morning girls," the stall keeper called out.
"Good morning Vera," I said as I picked through some herbs.
"What can I get for you today?" inquired Vera.
"Just some Milfoil," said my grandmother.
"And some marigolds," I added hopefully.
"You're cooking," my grandmother said with a knowing look as I nodded.
"Ah yes, the tangy flavor of marigolds! Delena you would make an excellent local chef. The dishes you can make with herbs are wonderful," praised Vera.
I blushed as I laughed at her, "I'm an average cook! I doubt I could ever cook professionally."
"You'd be surprised. Some of the people they hire at restaurants are terrible," my grandmother joked.
We took our herbs from Vera and walked around stalls trying to find a way towards the streets. The amount of people at the market during the summer is unbelievable but expected as tourists sometimes come.
"Lena? Are those the shoes you bought during the summer?" my grandmother said in surprise.
"Yes…I've only worn them in school," I somewhat explained.
"No, no. I am not scolding you, but it does come as a surprise. I never thought you would like them this much," confessed my grandmother.
"I really do love them. They remind me of the movie we saw. The one with the straw man? I really enjoyed the story which makes me love the shoes even more."
She sighed at my explanation as she hailed down a cab for us. The shoes my grandmother pointed out are actually a gift from her that I received last summer. We had gone to some mountains in Ireland and we happened to buy a film about a supposed wizard and a little girl with ruby slippers. While I really love the movie the thing I remember most is the freedom I experienced in the week in Ireland.
It was relaxing to not have to be checked on every five minutes. I hiked (with great difficulty) and shopped and did so many things I could never even dream of doing with my mother. At the end of the trip my grandmother bought me some red converse since I enjoyed The Wizard of Oz so much.
"Come Lena, the cab is waiting," said my grandmother.
"I'm coming," I said as I shooed away my thoughts.
'If only I could have a summer as thrilling as the last,' I wished thoughtfully.